Sugarcane farmers end week-long protest in Belagavi
Farmers agreed to a price of ₹3,600 per tonne following a meeting with factory owners on Wednesday night.
Sugarcane farmers in Belagavi ended a week-long protest on Wednesday night after reaching an agreement with factory owners. According to The Hindu, the farmers accepted an offer of ₹3,600 per tonne of sugarcane, which is approximately ₹50 more than the price paid last year.
The 29 sugar factories in the Belagavi district are expected to start crushing operations on Thursday. District in-charge Minister and sugar factory owner Satish Jarkiholi stated that the price applies to mills within the district.
Jarkiholi said the agreement is conditional on factories paying more if the Union government revises sugar or sugarcane prices. He noted that while farmers with irrigated fields and those growing rain-fed sugarcane face different challenges, a common understanding was reached during the meeting.
The Minister described the pricing agreement as a temporary solution to a multi-dimensional problem. He explained that the Union government must decide on the Minimum Selling Price of sugar and the Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane.
Jarkiholi added that the State government might review the State Advised Price for sugarcane after one year. He also mentioned that sugarcane supplying farmers should understand the differing financial conditions of private, government, and cooperative factories.